North Korea's nuclear test Tuesday set off a diplomatic scramble for America's new secretary of state as the U.S. national security community began working with other countries to try to determine what North Korea truly achieved.

The test was was not a total surprise, senior administration officials said. North Korea warned the United States and China on Monday that it would be undertaking a nuclear test, two senior administration officials told CNN. The warning came in the form of a message through the "NY channel," which is the U.S. mission to the United Nations, North Korea's typical method for passing messages to the United States. The warning was not specific on timing, but the officials said Washington took it to mean the test could happen at any moment.

After the test was detected late Monday night, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with South Korea's foreign minister. He's also expected to talk with the foreign ministers for China, Japan and Russia. The United States began coordinating its own response with inter-agency calls between Washington and Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow and Beijing. U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim and Gen. James Thurman, commander of the US-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command, met with the South Korean defense minister.

The U.S. intelligence community and military began the process of assessing the test and North Korea's claims and by morning concluded an underground nuclear test had probably been conducted.
"The explosion yield was approximately several kilotons. Analysis of the event continues," said a statement released Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Nuclear monitoring by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization will calculate what was released by the explosion. The United States will likely try to get additional readings from aircraft equipped with sensors and satellites and attempt to match those with seismic data to calculate what the explosion was.

Officials said it will be several days before Washington has a handle on the actual size of the explosion, payload and the success, or lack thereof, of the test. Bottom line: Successful or not, these tests do help North Korea learn and continue to perfect the technology.

One senior administration official says one of the the things the United States will be trying to determine is whether the North Koreans tested a uranium weapon for the first time. The past two tests were plutonium.

Washington and its allies also will be trying to figure out what type of technology and engineering was used to pull off the test and what, if any, help and materials North Korea may have received from other countries like Iran.

In addition to the analysis of data, the United States is currently analyzing North Korea's statement. At first glance, the mention of a "miniaturized" nuclear weapon is cause for concern, because that would mean the North Koreans may have mastered the technology to fit a nuclear weapon on a long-range missile that could possibly reach the United States. North Korea successfully demonstrated it could launch a long-range missile through its rocket launch last December, but questions remain about its ability to aim it toward a long-range target or even repeat the launch success.

United Nations Security Council members are meeting Tuesday morning about the North Korean test and officials say the American playbook will be pretty familiar. The officials all said Washington will seek a "tough, swift reaction" from the Security Council. Obviously, what comes out of the council will depend on what China and Russia will agree to sign on to. But one official said "there is a pretty strong commitment to go with a seriousness of purpose" to the United Nations.

Officials said the Obama administration is also looking at what other kinds of sanctions can be slapped on North Korea, which is already probably the most-sanctioned entity in the world. They are looking at the playbook for Iranian sanctions - shipping, insurance, more sanctions against financial transactions, designations of individuals.

soundoff(274 Responses)

Beefburger

Watch out North Korea! Or else Obama is going to give you an irritated look! If you do it again he will give you a stern talking to! (maybe even raise his voice and waggle a finger!) A third strike and that is IT! Obama is going to give you the COLD SHOULDER and might not even talk to you for a WHOLE WEEK!

Just roll over and go back to sleep.
That's what Hillary and Obozo did during Benghazi.
After all, we have plenty of diplomats and military personnel.
Hillary asked in 2008, "It's 3 AM, who do want answering the WH phone?"
Answer: No one in Obozo's staff.

The minute that former president George W. Bush, along with vice-president Dick Cheney and secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld conspired to invade Iraq absent provocation, the United States lost any credibility it has in the world when it comes to being the "policeman" of the world. Every single nation cannot trust the United States to exercise restraint and would be foolish to not build up their arms. The world is a much more dangerous place because of GWB and his cronies.

Your'e out of your mind. These countries are run by unstable people. It wouldn't matter who the President of the United States is, they would be doing the same thing. Get over the blame bush era. These countries are flexing because they know the U.S. has a weak president and weak foreign policy..

Well Ace, I see your the driver of the blame the Bush bandwagon. Why don't you go sign up for some military service and then come back for your Dumb @ss Coments. As for the spy naed as Prisoner X He was too dangerous to keep alive, so they offed him, As simple as that. Just like Osama Bin Hidin and Zarqawi in Iraq. In fact after they spotted his spiritual advisor and he were spotted at his hideout, they couldn't even wait the five minutes for us to arrive, ( We were en route) They made the call to a couple of patrolling F-15s and offed him. When we arrived he was still alive. One of my men turned him over, he looked at him and died. Ironic that THE LAST THING HE SAW WAS A US SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER. Fitting death for a coward. Hooo Aaah!
Master Sergeant
5th Special Forces
Currently Deployed!

Oh yay, John Kerry gets his first chance to call North Korea "provocative." Seriously, if anyone at the state department reads these comments can we drop the "provocative" adjective. It's getting as old as North Korea using the "brigandish" adjective on us. Let's at least come up with a new adjective to describe North Korea's thuggish behavior.

No man! the guy was lost on a boat. They had to get the coast guards involved to find him. it was a mess.

February 13, 2013 at 2:23 am |

1961

Okay TexasCaller: I’m not a journalist, I am not intellectual. So, I'll break in down for you, those quotation marks around the term “3AM,” makes it a figure of speech. It wasn’t meant to be taken literally. If this incident did occur early morning it would be a reason to wake Mr Kerry, hence the term “3am” call. This is a great example of why people thing the media cannot send a clear message or their facts are wrong. The really problem is the American public lacks the ability to clearly comprehend the message or context.

North Korea is a concern of South Korea, its technology either comes from Russia or China, maybe both. NK itself isn't a concern to the extent that Iran is, Iran will be the reason a much larger fight happens in the middle east within the next two years. When it happens though Iran's infrastructure will be in the same boat as Iraq's is today, maybe worse. Living in interesting times means sometimes it can be dangerous.

Peter Grenader wrote:
"If we were so ingorant as to attempt this(I assume he meant attack NKwith US' nuclear weapons )China would follow in minutes but not at them – at us, as would Russia, followed by India to Pakastain and you sir or madam would have little time to gather the loved ones in your life to say goodbye and melt as a family." .........what makes you think that those countries wouldn't want NK neutralized too? Plus, the US currently (but Obama wants to reduce)has enough nuclear weapons to retaliate and "melt" all those countries too. We're China biggest customer so without Walmart their economy is toast, Russia is becoming more Capitalistic than the US so Putin wouldn't want to screw-up the good life he's enjoying over NK, and India and Pakistan wouldn't waste their nukes on us because they're saving them to use on each other. Your dire projections are weaker than the really likely projection that NK is arming to attack the US because their boy leader is flat out nuts.

And what would you have us do? Lob a nuke at them? They are already under sanctions. There isn't much more we CAN do. I know, lets invade and get China involved. Because we all know they have 30 people in that country and 2 Chinese junks.

Thanks to the greed of American manufacturers all our intellectual rights would be worthless if we were involved with Korea. We don't make any of that stuff here any more, that is a completely unacceptable situation strategically.

It wasn't made in Korea, bub, but at a Taiwanese-owned factory in Mainland China.

February 12, 2013 at 11:03 pm |

Big_D

The good news is we have Obama. The bad news is we still have all the problems created by the previous administrations. I guess we could start borrowing money like crazy and leave it for the next administration to clean up but the GOP has done that to death.

How exactly in detail did Obama mishandle this? Please provide details explaining what you mean with factual references. We pretty much know your main reason for hating Obama is related to him being black or a democrat but nothing factual that has to do with how he is doing as a President.

February 12, 2013 at 4:11 pm |

Silicon Addict

No. You mistake worship with thanking god we have a leader who won't jump into a decade long war based on rumors of WMD's. Still waiting on those BTW. Oh and a leader who knows how to pronounce the word nuclear. Call me silly but I think if you are the leader with one of the largest stockpiles of nukes behind Russia. You might want to be able to say the word correctly. I personally appreciate a leader who can...well.....talk.

February 12, 2013 at 8:54 pm |

Sarcasm 80

I found the solution America should share it's wealth with the rest of the world, even the playing field, appeasement look the other way, they will go away. Or we could invade North Korea get rid of the dictator who ignores and violates UN sanctions. rebuild the country, apologize for invading, leave, then let the rest of the world consume and buy their natural resources and us as a country get nothing economically in return.

Nice thought and If the leaders of those two countries ever accepted i will kiss your behind in the Macy's window of your choosing. We must try to understand the history of this conflict – which spans close to 100 years. This is what they call a knotty issue, fueled by a immature brat who is playing in the new candy shop recently inherited by his dad, who's demanding the respect of his people and the world stage. The only lessons he needs to learn are the results of his poor decisions. Whether we pay him now (war) or pay him later (diplomatic sanctions) – he will learn this lesson.

I did 6 yrs active duty 1998- 2004, North Korea played their games. I went to college have a BA 2004-2008 North Korea played their games. I guy named Jim? no Geb, I think is name was George? anyways whoever he was is irrelevant, he warned about North Korea and Iran. I hope all you dumA$$$ non vets have fun fighting over in the pacific, when this hit's the precipice. I will be living the good-life eating big macs driving suv's watching snooki and laughing at ya.

I take that back I won't be laughing, I will get a yellow ribbon magnet, put it on my car, pretend I care. and whatever view is socially , politically, and media spuned I will support . Those analytically skills we all learned in college, that's for fantasy football and snooki LOL at least myself and my little johnny and Susie don't half to go.

@Sarcasm80 You have a BA? In WHAT? Certainly nothing that requires literacy or spelling ability. Or are you just drooling so much that your fingers are slipping on the keyboard?

February 12, 2013 at 8:31 pm |

sdgo

There is nothing to do. More sanctions won't help and the US will not invade NK. All we can do now, is hope that they don't pass the technology to Iran, but they will probably go nuclear soon too. The mistake of the US government was to concentrate to much on Iraq, Iran and even Libya and allow NK to do what they wanted because the US is so scared of China.

We better hope the US doesn't invade NK and I would never support a candidate who doesn't walk that line. Sanctions are hugely effective and the proof lies in the living conditions in NK available to the common populace. In a theater of diplomacy, any country with large surplus of nuclear weapons the size of China must be respected – not feared – and I think you made a poor choice of word there.

Obviously the gene pool of NK's last 3 generations of leaders is grossly flawed. The UN is a paper tiger and NK isn't going to be swayed by a "strongly worded letter" from Obama. The US has 2 choices: either accept the fact that NK (and Iran) is joining the other nuclear weapons countries and pray that it doesn't use them against us and/or our allies or take-out their nuclear capabilities now before it's too late. NK's kid leader doesn't even know what a decent haircut is, so by the US relying on his judgement about controlling NK's nuclear weapons it makes us even nuttier than he is.

February 12, 2013 at 3:17 pm |

Alex279

Passing it to Iran is actually pointless. Iran maintains that his purpose are innocent and actually enjoys some support for Russia and China. Now imagine that Iran conducts a test? The immediate outcome is that Iran looses its whatever support is left. Iran must export oil to make ends needs. If not to Europe, then at least to China, may be India and Pakistan.

NK on the other hand risks nothing at this point. All the sanctions are already in place. What else can be done? A US aerial bombing campaign will trigger quick retaliation against South Korea. Counterproductive. Ground invasion led by US? Hardly practical. Given the choice between bad behaving NK regime and US-led invasion China and Russia probably will pick the former and will automatically block any future UN resolutions going beyond the standard condemnation of reckless actions by NK. Another coalition of willing?

any invasion of the DPRK would be led by ROK forces not US. since most of you aren't familiar with the situation on penn i'll explain it for you. the South Korean military has been looking for an excuse to finish this war for several decades now. the only think that has kept the war from going hot is the UN peace keeping force. now it is no secret that the UN thinks of the US military as little more than a cheap PMC to push into the stalls any time a situation gets dicey.

That is a truly incomprehensible comment. Do you think he should have dialed up 'ol Kim Jong-un and asked him, "please don't set off any more A-bombs"? North Korea is an ongoing problem that has faced every president since Eisenhower, and Obama's policies aren't much different from those of his modern predecessors.. Although it's popular among those of the far-right-wing to blame Obama for everything from poverty in New Guinea to overcrowding in Tokyo, your comment is especially ludicrous.

I think perhaps that the writer is pointing to the habit of this particular administration to keep investing in the same losing policies over and over and over and over again and expecting a different result. You know what that definition is, right? Maybe, as long as our President has given himself the authority to murder whomever he chooses, whenever he chooses, he might point at few drones at the "known" North Korean nuclear facilities?

February 12, 2013 at 2:57 pm |

Ted

It cuts both ways. Bush was blamed for everything under the sun for 8 years by the liberals and now we are seeing the pendulum swing the other way. Welcome to politics in the USA.

February 12, 2013 at 3:11 pm |

DougNJ

As though Mitt R could have prevented the A-test. HOW? If these people are so much more insightful why do they not work for the State Dept?

February 12, 2013 at 7:45 pm |

Alex279

To be constructive, what you would do differently than Obama did toward NK during the last 4 years?

Well still not close enough sorry nk guess what I doubt a missle will make it here as of now anyways.. But really we cant just go blowing up people with our own bombs if they launch we will most likely shoot it down everyone acts like we've never shot one down I mean come on people try not to act to scared I mean its North Korea our miliatry is bad ass considering I served we could woop em if needed

Our military is bad ass...what is left of it. The Pentagon has been slashed as every Democratic administration does and the President wants to slash it more. Why do we continue to impose sanctions on these madmen, they don't care if their people starve or not, as long as they can hold onto their outlandish lifestyles and their power. I don't know what we can actually do (not a military genius nor do I see any in this administration) to stop these insane idiots but what we have been doing is surely not even slowing them down.

It certainly resulted in a sooner ending of a war that could have gone on many more years, and had the war gone on it would have resulted in many more lives lost that had been lost otherwise.

February 12, 2013 at 1:56 pm |

Sodomite

I was taught to believe the same bs as well.

February 12, 2013 at 1:59 pm |

Bob

I see you have never read history book before?

February 12, 2013 at 2:02 pm |

Peter Grenader

If we were so ingorant as to attempt this, China would follow in minutes but not at them – at us, as would Russia, followed by India to Pakastain and you sir or madam would have little time to gather the loved ones in your life to say goodbye and melt as a family.

Nice try at attempting to sound educated. Have you heard of mutually assured destruction? China and Russia launch nukes at us? And what....commit suicide for a regime that has been as much a thorn in their sides as it has been in ours? Not to mention the second and third waves that would come from our sites in Europe and the Indian Ocean. I like how you added that on about India launching its nukes at Pakistan.....only if and when China has been completely taken out of the picture by our retaliatory nukes would India think about that.

That being said, nuking North Korea would be incredibly idiotic and short-minded, but what you imagine would happen in that case is equally idiotic.

So for 40+ years the USA was able to contend with the Soviet Union which had tens of thousands of nuclear weapons in multiple locations/countries yet now we're in a snit about N. Korea?

Wild idea here: how about once (for a start) the USA minds it's own business then perhaps we won't suffer more blowback (as the CIA calls it) in the form people or countries that want to cause us harm.

Yeah, that approach is tantamount to appeasing Germany when it decided it wanted to conquer all of Europe. If you let them do what they want, then they become an even bigger threat with better weapons of mass destruction. Are you ok with a rouge belligerent nation pointing long range nuclear warheads at your backyard?

Sometimes when I am bored I read some of these comments. There appears to be a common thread. Everyone is assigning blame to others, that aligns up with their politics. How many here vote? And by that, JUST VOTE? Perhaps you don't realize that just voting is not enopugh to turn this country around. We (ALL) need to contact those in Washington and voice our displeasure. Keep those phones ringing, tell them we are aware of their antics and we are fed-up with them. Grumbling amoung us will only serve to create further failed policies. It is time that congres got the message. All in favor of term limits please vote this up...

91% of those in Congress that chose to run for re-election this past November, won their seats back. What message was the American public sending then??...... Congress....you may have the lowest approval rating ever but we're going to give you one more chance to improve, and if you don't improve by 2014... we'll give you another chance then too.... and if you still don't improve by 2016, we'll give you another Steve Howe chance to improve.

Those polls are bogus and the media outlets know it. Polling generically on whether you like what Congress is doing is destined to turn out negative. Most people wish Congress would do more in their own political direction, so they "disapprove" of the tactics of the opposition.

You buying into the whole disapproval of Congress as a sign that America loves the president is evidence of the dupability of America.

a short while ago they were both ass u me (what you are making) and it was talked about here and there, that it'd be a long time before anything happens ... what's it going to take to wake you nerds up? yesterdays are long gone, and tomorrows are coming.

Obama should not be allowing and then deciding what will be done you as President should have IN PLACE a plan of action. Obama is cowing to the illegals and putting the entire country at risk due to it. Does he really think Sanctions are the answer? They havent been so far! Obama and everyone that voted for him I am laughing my ass off at you all. America is losing its people with money, they are leaving for the countries that have STRICT IMMIGRATION LAWS AND THAT ARE UPHELD. I MEAN REALLY WHY WASTE MONEY IN AMERICA WHEN YOU CAN LIVE BETTER IN PLACES ALL THE ILLEGALS ARE LEAVING TO RUIN AMERICA!

That is a joke. Kalifornika can't pay it's own bills. Love that Liberal "green" agenda. Spend it and they will come. Raise taxes and it will all work out. What a joke Kali has become. * Billion in debt every budget year. Thank God states like Texas are here to give your businessess somewhere to continue to make money. Just keep telling yourself the old lie and watch conservative states with no income tax and no corporate tax flourish. Can you say "BUDGET SURPLUS" LOL

February 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm |

Trigger

*Billions

February 12, 2013 at 2:56 pm |

Peter Grenader

Hey trigger – thanks for opinion on my current home state – feel free to stey the he ll out.

Disagree, we are not standing in line to get bread with Obama....look at Europe, 25% unemployment all over, a union that is breaking apart, merging economies around the world slowing down, even China is struggling under its own weight!!! yes there is unemployment here and deficit but we are heading up from the worst debacle that happened snce the great depression and it happened under Bush watch, i am not saying was his fault but was not Obama's fault either. Republicans want to apply the restrictions that are slowing Europe over here, laying off people, reduce spending in critical areas that will destroy our economy...that is why the GOP lost.....people that don't work don't buy houses or cars and the government have to sustain them with food stamps!!!! we are not perfect but among the debacle going around the planet at least many here have a job, a house, a car and can feed our family for a decent wage!!! After three wars what you can expect!!! we spent billions in Iraq, a pet project of Bush Jr....why?????? they should sent the people that lied to us about Iraq and 9/11 to jail so leave Benghazi alone!!!

Why is when one of Obama's buddies gets arrested he's willing to sit down and discuss the matter over a beer but when a country is acquiring nuclear capabilities they're not deemed important enough to meet with?

If he uses the same well honed judgement he used when he picked John Edwards as running mate, he'll probably be bringing Kim Jong-Il to the US for a private tour of military facilities.

Putting men like Kerry in charge of foreign policy is like getting a former Citigroup executive who helped destroy the economy and has major assets invested in the Cayman Islands (something Romney was berated for) to run the US Treasury Department.

Oh wait, that's exactly what Obama is doing. How can you people still support this guy? He's rewarding everyone for doing the wrong thing or making the wrong judgement, and ignoring everyone who has consistently done the right thing and did not help destroy the economy.

yYOu: are you telling us the WWIII is going to break out because of Obamacare? Really? ummm... i know it was big law, a lot of pages... but don't ya think someone would have caught that one? (it's a joke, but I'm laughing at you)

Now, before you give us the 'you wait and see cause i looked into my Teabilly crystal ball and word was spoke' followup, please try to dig a little deeper. Try to touch all of the items you think we hold as hotspots because this is the same cra ap that cost you the last election, and I for one SERIOUSLY hope it costs you the next.

Disagree, we are not standing in line to get bread with Obama....look at Europe, 25% unemployment all over, a union that is breaking apart, merging economies around the world slowing down, even China is struggling under its own weight!!! yes there is unemployment here and deficit but we are heading up from the worst debacle that happened snce the great depression and it happened under Bush watch, i am not saying was his fault but was not Obama's fault either. Republicans want to apply the restrictions that are slowing Europe over here, laying off people, reduce spending in critical areas that will destroy our economy...that is why the GOP lost.....people that don't work don't buy houses or cars and the government have to sustain them with food stamps!!!! we are not perfect but among the debacle going around the planet at least many here have a job, a house, a car and can feed our family for a decent wage!!! After three wars what you can expect!!! we spent billions in Iraq, a pet project of Bush Jr....why?????? they should sent the people that lied to us about Iraq and 9/11 to jail so leave Benghazi alone!!!

Here's some food for thought...President Obama should invite both North and South Korea's leaders to Camp David and present them with a proposal to unite as one nation the way Germany did. After all, we sacrificed 54,000 lives to seperate North and South Vietnam and what did that accomplish? Absolutely nothing.

That's NOT how the South Koreans feel about it. They enjoy their freedom very much.

Typical liberal are you. Never a thought for anybody but yourself. The fact that South Koreans are not starving to death in chains as the North Koreans are is of no real significance to you, is it. How I wish you could be a North Korean so that you could understand exactly what it was we DID accomplish in freeing South Korea from the brutal totalitarianism of the North.

I agree that South Koreans aren't starving to death but they live under the daily threat of a nuclear confrontation because relations between the two countries are fragile. A united Korea would solve that problem. To you I might be a dumb liberal but I do believe that compromise is the solution to peace.

February 12, 2013 at 11:13 am |

cedar rapids

'Typical liberal are you. Never a thought for anybody but yourself.'

oh the irony in your comment.

February 12, 2013 at 11:15 am |

CompromiseThis

Some people would rather fight than give up any ounce of freedom just for the sake of "compromise." Good for January2454.

February 12, 2013 at 11:18 am |

CW

Your credibility went 'poof!' the instant you wrote "Typical liberal are you. Never a thought for anybody but yourself." Because you exactly described capitalist extremist GOP pigs, not Democrats, in that statement.

February 12, 2013 at 11:20 am |

CompromiseThis

Actually, CW, it describes both. So that makes him/her only 50% wrong.

February 12, 2013 at 11:24 am |

Jeff

Blah blah –

Yes, compromise is the solution. Compromising a society to move itself from one of the most advanced in the world to one of the least advanced to appease an aggressor seems like a great idea.

February 12, 2013 at 12:41 pm |

fiscal2020

Liberals might want "reunification" but a typical conservative would want a war with North Korea even though hundreds of thousands of South Korean are in artillery range and there's no way to stop them. And worse, conservatives know this; they know military hardware and they know South Korean civilians would be slaughtered. As long as its not Americans. Perhaps one million South Koreans would be killed in a new war.

So conservatives are far, far "less caring of other people" when it comes to the Korea issue and far more extreme.

February 12, 2013 at 6:58 pm |

Frangible

Liberals may mean well, but they are fundamentally unable to understand the difference between complacency and peace. South Koreans would rather die fighting than submit to the North. You may not understand it, but there are things in this world which are worse than armed conflict.

The North is no idyllic communist paradise, no more than the reality of Cuba, and yet Lee Harvey Oswald's ignorance about it ended up costing a much greater man his life. Ignorance such as this regarding NK would cost many more their lives, but fortunately you will never be in any position to dictate such things to South Koreans.

February 13, 2013 at 9:45 am |

Dazzy

Because inviting a psychopathic serial killer into your home is usually a good idea...

Try reading a little to see what the newest Kim Jong is all about. He wants nothing to do with the civilized world, the only option at this point is for nato to send him and his regime back to the stone age where they clearly want to be, before he does any damage to anyone.

That's what Obama did, jumped on his campaign plane and flew to Las Vegas. Hilliary was still at the African nightclub drinking and dancing on her goodwill look how important I am tour.

February 12, 2013 at 4:10 pm |

Meanwhile.....

Oh for Pete's sake, women have been awakened at all hours of the night since the beginning of time, drunken husbands, hungry babies, blah blah blah. You men are such whiners. It cracks me up that someone would actually argue about it.

The United States won't do a THING....sanctions do hurt North Korea's economy.....but the only appropriate response will be to use military force.....If NK wants to be in the "big boy" league...they have to learn there will be consequences for their actions.......what's going to happen someday soon...the idiot leader of NK will over load his mouth and take some type of action......which will kill Americans or South Koreans......I say just go ahead and bomb them now......it's not like NK contributes ANYTHING to the world anyway.....

1st you say "the only appropriate respnse will be to use militaru force which is followed by no more war please" Confusing!

February 12, 2013 at 11:08 am |

Dwight

Enough Already.

February 12, 2013 at 11:10 am |

ironic

That's because North Korea is a joke, and only a threat to itself. Midget bully nation.

February 12, 2013 at 10:58 am |

Uncle Hubris

More tough talk from another neocon chickenhawk.

February 12, 2013 at 1:55 pm |

JCDavis

For what, you ask. For defense. When you have a country as belligerent as the US with tens of thousands of troops on your border, flying aircraft and nuclear powered carriers off your shores with unknown numbers of nuclear weapons, you'd be crazy not to build your own weapons.

Like that's going to help their defense. Maybe they should instead focus on feeding their people. The US is not a threat to North Korea because they don't pose a thread on anyone except their people. Small people with small minds.

A closer look will reveal that partisan views in the US have significant implications on foreign policy. The Right Wing firmly believes that Russia is the biggest threat to our nation as Mr. Romney rhetorically stated during one of the debates while the president and the audience displayed amazement. Al Queda, he said, was. In any case, we have a sizable group of Romney followers who will obstruct the president from visiting Moscow esp. at a time when the relationship is a lot cooler over an issue of adoption, a far cry from issues of terror. Our establishment cannot change its tunes since McCarthyism and JFK's anti-communist crusades. The president, alone, cannot just change that. But, he can try his part in starting to reduce unnecessary friction between two powers. Russia has the same enemies-terrorists as we do. We torture them at Gitmo but criticize Russia for the same in the same breath. The president is well liked in Russia as elsewhere. The ball is in his court to capitalize on a much better relationship with Russia-by sending Mr. Kerry first and then by going to the Kremlin himself.

This has nothing to do with race. Heaven forbid anyone disagree with a "black" president. Frankly, that's a weak, worn-out argument used by the left to distract from the real issues.
Instead, Americans are outraged by the repeated lies told by our POTUS and top officials. That bothers me. That said, our leaders wouldn't recognize the truth if it slapped them in the face.

February 12, 2013 at 10:21 am |

Skippy

The President is black? Really? Who cares....

February 12, 2013 at 10:25 am |

Carol

They let people die in Benghazi and Obama was more concerned about his campaign. They need to try Clinton and Obama for treason and throw Leon Panetta in for good measure.

February 12, 2013 at 10:30 am |

tomshaus

Wow, ur just ignoring innocent people dead, and our national black eye of incompetence. Amazing what the rats will do or say , to follow Willard.

February 12, 2013 at 10:32 am |

Dazzy

Right, because the government always tells 100% of the truth. Must be a nice cozy little world you live in.

February 12, 2013 at 11:06 am |

cedar rapids

'They let people die in Benghazi and Obama was more concerned about his campaign. '

oh grow up, seriously.

February 12, 2013 at 11:17 am |

observer

Obama lied and people died.

February 12, 2013 at 11:46 am |

Jimmy Jones

@cedar rapids Actually he is absolutely correct. Obama couldn't have something go wrong right before an election. That is the whole reason they tried to blame it on a YouTube video. But don't let that cloud you rose colored glasses.

February 12, 2013 at 12:55 pm |

Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

Do you know what President Obama was doing on the 3am call? He was killing OBL. And what was Bush doing at 3am when our mainland was being attacked by al Qaeda? Sleeping.

I don't know you were when I watched the news ,he was sitting on a stage in a school auditorium speaking with children, as his aides came on stage to inform inform of the attack to the New York twin Towers

February 12, 2013 at 11:21 am |

Goatse

You're not the brightest bulb, are you?

February 12, 2013 at 3:34 pm |

January2454

Oh, come on, Eric.

You know they didn't bother Obama at 3 a.m. He had ONE brief notification at 5 p.m. Incurious as Obama always is, he didn't ask to be kept updated about the attack. He told Panetta to "do whatever you think is right."

Then Obama went to bed to get a good night's sleep so he'd be fresh for his campaign trip to Las Vegas the next day. That's our Commander-in-Chief. Always on the job. Not.

As I said before, the only beef I have with President Obama's foreign policy during the previous administration is not sending Hillary Clinton to North Korea to improve relations with the new leader. It might sound absurd and silly but your enemy is only your enemy until you meet with him and try to find common ground and show mutual respect. Yes, Mrs. Clinton made history by being the first U.S. Secretary of State to go to Myanmar. But why Myanmar? Is Myanmar trying to develop nuclear weapons? I thought that trip was way less important than NK.

For half a century we have isolated NK, alienate its leaders and conducted provacative military ecercises on its borders to no avail. Now the country has a new leader that's in the process of assessing where he stands on relations with the U.S., with all the experience and pxpertise that we have had in foreign affairs throughout our long history, shouldn't we be the ones initiating the process and encouraging dialogue instead of conducting provacative military exercises on NK's border? I think we need to calm down and take a deep breath, then assess how we go about opening dialogue with the young leader. After half a century of cold war with the Soviet Union, I believe we have all the experience, skills and know-how to do so. Therefore, Mr. Kerry's 3am call should be a call to President Jong-iL.

You are kidding, right? The new leader is the previous leader's son and has been involved in the government for years. He doesn't have any different ideas. In fact, the 'new leader' has reaffirmed that they view this country as their 'sworn enemy'. No one will call them. You act as if a new day has dawned in the DPRK and we should seize the opportunity. They receive ridiculous amounts of aid for their impoverished people and then break UN rules. They have have a huge amount of their population in political work camps- and if you speak against the government, they might not take just you, but your entire family to the work camp. You want the Secretary of State to call and say exactly what??

Yes, I want the Secretary of State to call him because that is his job. Peace is better than war and the only way to accomplish that end is through dialogue. We can continue to be ignorant and complacent as we have done in the past but that won't get us anywhere. I believe failure to encourage dialogue is a weak excuse for doing nothing. If that is the road we're going to take, then perhaps we should move the UN to another country.

February 12, 2013 at 9:59 am |

Doug sug

The blame goes to Eisenhower for not letting Douglas McAuthor finish his job. We would'nt have this CRAZY IDIOT to face NOW....

Also, we don't call. We speak to them through Sweden, if we have to. The US and several other nations tried very hard to normalize relations during the 6 party talks and North Korea once again broke the rules. The US was planning to remove them from a list of countries considered terrorists. The new leader is well aware of why this didn't happen. We are also still technically at war. North Korea is to follow UN guidelines before any 'relations' improve,

Then let's keep talking through Sweden. By day's end, there might eventually be less underground nuclear tests.

February 12, 2013 at 10:01 am |

Mike in Iowa

Of course but that nut would not have welcomed her at all. And he would have gone ahead anyway to spite the US and the world. Pakistan gave them substantial aid in this destructive business. A tyrant who starves his own people as he does is just as bad as Saddam and the UN should convene at the earliest to do something. In that, the US must restore a good relationship with Russia instead of taking pot shots at Russia. Roosevelt and Truman worked with Stalin quite well. Only people like Romney will not work with Putin. In the end, the US will have to work with Russia, everyone knows that rather too well.

"The U.S. began coordinating its own response with inter-agency calls between Washington and Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow and Beijing." I mean...what's wrong in the brain of North Korean leaders? Besides their lovable far away friend Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, North Korea's test surely adds tension to the relationship with the surrounding countries. The chubby North Korean leader should care of the poor people of his country, instead of wasting money in unnecessary nuclear tests, the purpose of which cannot be understood by anybody.

Didn't someone in the Obama administration say that North Korea will not be allowed to poccess nuclear weapons? So much for that statement. So what's next. Those same people said the same thing about Iran. Only this time Israel is in the mix. When they say something, they mean it. Not like the empty threats that the United States makes. I wonder if Obama means what he says about assault weapons. Is that an empty threat also?

Hey John, President Obama said he'll end the Iraqi war and he did that. He said he'll end the Afghan war and he has set a deadline to do just that. He said if given the chance, he'll get rid of OBL and he did that. He said he will free the Libyan people from the stronghold of Moammar Ghadaffi and he did just that. He promised to help bring democracy to South Sudan and he followed through on his promise. And as far as NK is concerned, he never said he would prevent them from conducting an underground nuclear test. What he said is that if NK fails to comply with the Nuclear Non Proliferation Threaty, the West would continue with sanctions. Please get your facts straight.

Were still in Iraq and are having soldiers killed, just not enough troops there to fight back. Afghanistan is a joke as far as being secure is concerned and our troop numbers will be brought down to where those left will be in imminent danger 24/7.

Who remembers the old "duck and cover" drills we had in school? Here we go "AGAIN"!!! It seems like the leaders of our world well not be happy until they can light off one of these bombs again. Its sad to say that the ego of our leaders will be and is paid for by the lives of their nations people regardless of which country we live in.

Or the least bit insightful either.
It's like reading the thoughts of a 5 year old trying understand how the world works.

February 12, 2013 at 10:11 am |

Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

You said with Obama in charge this can only get worse? You mean like ending the illegitimate Iraqi war and saving thousands of lives and billions of dollars, setting a deadline to end the Afghan war, bringing democracy to Libya and South Sudan, getting rid of OBL and restoring America's image, trust and credibility??? You must be a teapublican.

NK's first nuclear test was in 2006. Bush was president then, but he was too busy looking under every rock in Iraq to find something to justify his invasion, which we now know was a world-class blunder.

@Bobpitt: take your head out of your behind. India? Proliferator? Wait, I know... you must be whatchamacallit – a Teapublican. How's that working out for ya? Tell you what – kiss the poster of Sarah Palin that you hang up in your trailer, down a couple of shots and go to sleep. Perhaps you have already done that. Good for ya.

FYI – India and Pakistan both did not sign the NPT, hence they are not in violation of the NPT, which is a discriminatory treaty. Also FYI, India (unlike Pakistan) developed its own nuclear program and technology, without 'stealing' any western technology. Finally, how come no one talks about the fact that Israel already has multiple nuclear weapons. Sounds like a double standard to me.

Really? India developed a nuclear weapon without following the original plans? Wow, I'm impressed.
Why is India a third world country?

February 12, 2013 at 10:13 am |

Mike in Iowa

When US helicopters went into Pakistan and took out their terrorist resident, Pakistan's military at the Indian border was placed on the highest alert and explicit threats were directed to India. Pakis seem to have a short memory of the fact that the Indian military kicked its US empowered butt so hard as to be bleeding to this date. Having an enemy like that for neighborhood, going nuke is only natural, esp. for responsible and peaceful hands. Pakistan, on the other hand, is for proliferation of nukes. It empowered N. Korea with nuclear technology reducing the build time by ten years. This is because it has no scruples. America knows that rather too well and did nothing. The phone call to Mr. Kerry was well staged. It was a tongue in cheek slap in the face on behalf of Mr. Bin Laden. Pakistan has supplied nuclear technology to Iran, a much less known fact but the US govt. is aware of that.

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